The
London Transport Museum recently unveiled its brand-new
Global Poster Gallery, a permanent exhibition dedicated to showcasing the rich history of commercial poster art and design from the museum's extensive collection. This gallery offers a fascinating look at how design has been used to promote London’s transport system over the years, from the early 20th century through to today.
To mark the opening of this incredible new exhibition, the museum hosted a special Museum Lates event titled “Posters and Posers.” This lively evening was filled with creative activities, talks, and, of course, plenty of posters celebrating London’s transport legacy. I was honoured to be invited to run one of my printing workshops as part of this special event, where visitors could explore their creativity while celebrating the vibrant culture of London and its iconic transport system.
A Workshop to Celebrate London’s Transport Legacy
As a designer passionate about both art and London’s history, it was brilliant to be involved in this exciting event. My workshop focused on inviting participants to create their own poster prints inspired by London’s transport system. Whether it was exploring the classic designs of the London Underground, the famous red buses, or the iconic black cabs, attendees were encouraged to get creative and reflect on how London’s transport system has shaped the city’s identity.
I set about digging into the London Transport Museum's online poster archive to search for design styles that I could reference in my workshop. I was particularly drawn towards the work of Cyril Power, Elizabeth Baranov, Paul Catherall and Clive Gardiner – artists that used perspective, block colour and simple forms to create dynamic and beautiful images.
Inspired by these artists, I decided to create a workshop combining collage and block printing. I created a range of custom stamps featuring London Transport imagery (escalators, modes of transport, people, bus stops etc), and chose a range of coloured papers that referenced the work of Power, Baranov, Catherall and Gardiner.
With the paper and pre-made printing stamps, attendees could play with background colour, layering and composition to create their own unique poster print. We used block printing inks, rollers and coloured paper to create our London Transport posters. The quick and fun printing process helped to create energetic and exciting posters.
I was delighted to welcome almost 100 participants to my printing workshop, all of whom got to take home their London Transport poster as a souvenir of their night at the Museum Late.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my involvement in this event was seeing how people of varied ages and backgrounds engaged with the design process. Whether they were long-time Londoners or first-time visitors, participants brought their unique perspectives to the workshop, creating art that reflected their individual connections to the city and its transport system.
It’s always amazing to see how art can bring people together and inspire creativity, and this event was a perfect example of that.
The London Transport Museum continues to be a vital resource for exploring the intersection of art, history, and transportation in London. It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of such an important event, and I look forward to more opportunities to collaborate with the museum and other cultural institutions that celebrate the creative side of London.
Celebrating London’s Transport History Through Art at the London Transport Museum.
I am so impressed with the Transport Museum's free online poster archive and urge you to check it out, especially if you have an interest in design and London Transport. It's incredible how the techniques, styles and methods have changed over time. Spanning from the 1900's when Chief Executive of London Transport, Frank Pick, announced the importance of design for the company.
Here's a brief history of poster design for the London Transport system.
1920's/1930's
The Golden Age. Poster design reached its peak of stylistic quality. London Transport is regarded as a leading patron of the arts.
Style - bold modernism and clear messaging. Futuristic and Art Deco styles are popular. Female artists are valued and over a quarter of London Underground publicity is designed by women (which is more than most companies at that time).
1940's/1950's
After the Second World War, the London transport system was carrying more passengers than ever. Poster designs became more informative to better inform the rise of passengers.
1960's/1970's
Decline in passengers using the London Transport system. Tighter budgets and a huge decline in commissioning artists. Poster art was seen as a luxury.
1970's
the use of agencies increases and advertising work is contracted out to agencies. There was a move from a 'soft sell' approach to art posters with measurable results.
1980's
Nearly all adverts were contracted through agencies. Posters became more photographic. In 1986, commissioning artists started again with the help of the 'Art of the Underground' scheme which helped to fill blank spaces.
1990's
Poster space became more aggressively sold after London Transport advertising became privatised.
2000's
London Transport became Transport For London.
There were more modes of transport with the addition of boats.
Artists were commissioned to create posters with a clear marketing message and needed to compete with big, bright plasma screens.
Thank you to Molly at the London Transport Museum for organising such a brilliant event and including me in the special Museum Late. And thank you Kazvare Made It for supporting me and my brand.
If you haven't yet had the chance to visit the Global Poster Gallery, I highly recommend it. It’s an inspiring experience for anyone interested in design, history, and the evolution of London’s transport system.
Stay tuned for more exciting projects, workshops, and collaborations that celebrate London’s creative landscape!
Address
London Transport Museum
Covent Garden Piazza
London
WC2E 7BB
Photo courtesy of London Transport Museum.
